What's the difference between outsourced accounting and a fractional CFO?

Outsourced accounting handles the day-to-day: bookkeeping, monthly close, payroll, and tax filings. A fractional CFO sits one level up and owns the strategy: forecasting, board reporting, fundraising support, audit readiness. Most growing companies between $1M and $50M in revenue need both. Escalon delivers them as a single integrated pod, so the CFO and the bookkeeper aren't trading emails to reconcile data.

When should a startup hire outsourced accounting services?

The trigger is usually one of three things: revenue crossing $1M, a funding round on the horizon, or the founder spending more than 5 hours a week on bookkeeping. Outsourcing earlier than that tends to be premature; later, and the cleanup cost on year-end taxes or due diligence usually exceeds what you'd have spent on a full year of service.

How does Escalon's pricing work?

Pricing is custom, scoped to your revenue band and the mix of services you need (Financial, People, Tax). We don't publish tiers because every company between $1M and $50M has a different operational shape.

How is Escalon different from other providers?

Most outsourced providers focus on a single function — finance only, HR only, or tax only. Escalon is the only provider that delivers Financial Operations, HR, and Tax Operations as one engagement with one U.S.-led pod. No handoffs between vendors. No data duplicated across three logins. One team that grows with you from $1M to $50M without re-platforming.

Do you handle multi-state payroll and sales tax?

Yes. Multi-state payroll, state registrations, sales tax nexus monitoring (especially relevant for SaaS companies hitting Wayfair thresholds), and quarterly filings are part of HR and Tax Operations. We register new states automatically when your headcount or revenue triggers nexus, so you don't get blindsided by a back-tax notice.

Can Escalon support a Series B audit?

Yes. Audit readiness is in scope from Financial Operations Pro upward: GAAP-compliant close, ASC 606 revenue recognition, ASC 718 stock comp, schedule preparation, and direct work with the audit firm. The team has supported dozens of Series A through D audits across SaaS, business services, and manufacturing.

Outsourced Finance, HR, and Tax Services

Ray Hein

CEO · Propel

Product-success / PLM software

Time back — and a closed Series B

The company

Propel's "product success" platform connects the people, systems, and processes companies need to take products from concept to customer.

The partnership

With Escalon running finance, Ray's team reclaimed the hours that finance operations used to consume.

The impact

Time back to lead the business — and a partner they couldn't have closed their Series B without.

"The biggest solution and value that Escalon is bringing to Propel is helping us get time back. We couldn't have closed our Series B without all of you."

Ray HeinPropel CEO

Barton Sidles

Dir. Corporate & Business Dev · Hubject

EV charging interoperability

Back office off his plate, focus back on growth

The company

Hubject operates one of the world's largest eRoaming networks, connecting EV drivers, charge-point operators, and mobility providers across borders.

The partnership

Escalon took invoicing, expenses, and the day-to-day finance admin off Barton's plate.

The impact

Less pressure and less paperwork — so Barton can focus on growing the business instead of the expense side.

"The biggest benefits are allowing me to focus on my business. It has taken away the issues of having to deal with an invoice, or having to deal with expenses. It honestly takes so much pressure off of me to be able to focus on me growing a business rather than me focusing on the expense side. That has been the biggest help for me."

Barton SidlesDirector of Corporate & Business Development, Hubject

Steve Herbert

President · Polaris Capital

Real Estate

Timely tax advice that keeps more money in the bank

The company

Polaris Capital is one of a group of real estate companies led by Steve Herbert, together with Herbert Bay Area Properties and Sincere Property Management.

The partnership

Escalon Tax Services gives Steve proactive tax guidance, so the tax impact of every purchase, sale or restructuring is clear before he acts.

The impact

Transactions made promptly, a lighter tax burden and more cash kept in the bank.

"My return on equity is really giving me that solid tax advice so I do make the transactions promptly and I lessen my tax burden. The benefit to me is saving more money in the bank."

Steve HerbertPresident, Polaris Capital

Criteria	Escalon	Other competitors
Service scope	✓ Finance + People + Tax in one engagement	✕ Single function only — finance, HR, or tax
Revenue range supported	✓ $1M to $50M without re-platforming	✕ Optimized for one stage — switch required at scale
Vendor count	✓ One team, one contract, one source of truth	✕ Three+ vendors, duplicated data, cross-team meetings
Audit readiness	✓ Series A through D audit support in scope	✕ Separate accounting partner usually required
Operating cadence	✓ Integrated monthly close + board package	✕ Cross-vendor reconciliation each month

Criteria

Escalon

Other competitors

Service scope

✓ Finance + People + Tax in one engagement

✕ Single function only — finance, HR, or tax

Revenue range supported

✓ $1M to $50M without re-platforming

✕ Optimized for one stage — switch required at scale

Vendor count

✓ One team, one contract, one source of truth

✕ Three+ vendors, duplicated data, cross-team meetings

Audit readiness

✓ Series A through D audit support in scope

✕ Separate accounting partner usually required

Operating cadence

✓ Integrated monthly close + board package

✕ Cross-vendor reconciliation each month

Ready to learn how
we can help you grow?

Book a consultation to gain clarity on which Escalon services may be right for you.

✓Senior team lead on the first call

✓Custom written scope customized for your needs

✓No commitment, no pressure, just a conversation

Outsourced finance, HR, and tax for growing companies.

Our Services

Financial Operations

HR & People Operations

Tax Operations